Wiranto named in probe

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, JAN. 31. Gen. Wiranto, formerly the overall commander of Indonesia's military forces (TNI) and Senior Coordinating Minister for Politics and Security Affairs, was today formally cited by the National Human Rights Commission as the officer whose ``failure'' to ensure security in East Timor in the wake of its independence vote last year had ``directly or indirectly'' resulted in a situation in which ``crimes against humanity'' took place there.

But Gen. Wiranto was not legally implicated or indicted in the sense that the commission, known as ``Komnas HAM'' in local parlance, recommended that his conduct as also that of five other Generals during the relevant period should now be investigated by the Indonesian Attorney General's Office.

The findings of a panel under Komnas HAM, namely ``KPP-HAM'' which had interrogated these Generals and others on allegations of rights abuses in East Timor, were submitted by the national commission's Chairman, Mr. Joko Sugianto, to the Attorney General, Mr. Marzuki Darusman, in Jakarta today.

While the findings were in consonance with the spirit of the new democratic times in Indonesia where the TNI had for long played a pivotal role in politics, ``Komnas HAM'' left the final word to be said only after a detailed investigation that had now been suggested.

Today's unprecedented denouement preceded the anticipated comments by the U.N. Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, on the findings of a panel that he had constituted to investigate the circumstances of the carnage in East Timor.

Mr. Sugiato and the ``KPP-HAM'' Chairman, Mr. Albert Hasibuan, indicated that the primary finding was that Gen. Wiranto was aware of the worsening human rights situation in East Timor both before and after the U.N.-sponsored ``popular consultation'' there last August. Further investigation under the Attorney General's auspices was, therefore, recommended, especially because, as analysts and observers noted, the present evidence had not led to any conclusion about whether or not Gen. Wiranto or others had indeed orchestrated or directed the anti- independence violence. ``Komnas HAM'' suggested detailed investigations in respect of 40 people, including the six TNI officers. Some of them are said to belong to the pro-Jakarta militias of East Timor. The latest findings, which could still ruffle the TNI's feathers, came in the wake of affirmations by top military officers that there was no room for speculation about a coup against Mr. Wahid during his current absence from the country. According to the present TNI commander, Admiral Widodo, the President's foreign tour was itself a testimony to his faith in the military.

Referring to Mr. Wahid's recent comment that he could count on the loyalty of at least 90 per cent of the TNI cadre, Adm. Widodo said the observation should spur the military to strengthen its unity. The Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, said he would ``guarantee'' that ``there will be no coup.''

Aceh MP found dead

AFP reports:

An Indonesian Member of Parliament hailing from Aceh, who had campaigned for the prosecution of military officers guilty of rights abuses in the troubled province, has been found dead, the official Antara news agency said today.

Mr. Nashiruddin Daud, 58, vice-chairman of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry into rights abuses in Aceh, was found dead last week in the north Sumatra capital of Medan. His body bore severe wounds.

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